Collapsible reflector



Aug. 23, 1932. L, c DOANE 1,873,310-

. COLLAPSIBLE REFLECTOR Filed Jan. 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S\ 20 B751.x ,6 +3

INVENTOR Leroy C Duane BY ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. c, DQANE 1,873,310

COLLAPSIBLE REFLECTOR Filed Jan. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 31 55'INVENTQR L royfl [Joana ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE LEROY C. DOANE, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THEMILLER COMPANY, OF MEBIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUTCOLLAPSIBLE REFLECTOR Application filed January 24, 1931. Serial No.510,866.

The present invention relates to collapsible reflectors and is moreparticularly directed toward a construction of portable reflectors andlighting apparatus susceptible of being a collapsed and stored in acompact manner.

' The present invention contemplates a collapsible reflector made out ofa few simple rigid parts capable of being assembled to form asubstantial rigid reflector and support the light source in positionwithin the reflector. The reflector is, however, so designed that it canreadily be taken apart for storage in a comparatively small space.

Reflectors such as contemplated by the present invention are susceptibleof use where large portable outdoor reflectors are required fortemporary flood lighting, or they may be used as reflectors aboutexplosive flash lamps, now available for flash. light m photography.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, two forms in which it may be embodied, it being understoodthat the forms shown are 55 illustrative of the invention rather thanlimiting the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a reflector with the partsopened or m expanded in position;

Figure 2 is a developed plan view showing a plurality of panels makingup the collapsible reflector;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1, parts being inelevation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of one of the plates of thereflector;

Figures 5a and 5b are sectional views on the line 55 of Figure 4 throughtwo of the 9 panels;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a box or carrying case for the partsshown in the preceding figures, the parts being shown in place therein;

5 Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view through a modified form of socket supportfor use with the collapsible reflector.

0 The reflecting element of the collapsible reflector is in the form ofa plurality of sheet metal panels 10 and 11 arran ed alternately. Thesepanels may convenienifly be made out of sheet aluminum cut wedge shaped,as indicated in the drawings. The edges of the wedge shaped or taperedpanels are rolled, as indicated at 12, to form knuckles, and hinge pins13 are passed through these knuckles so as to hold the panels together.One of the lnnge pins 13a, as indicated in Figure 2, is provided with anaccessible extension so as to facilitate its removal. The other hingepins may be permanently secured in place. A relatively large number ofthese panels is preferably employed so that the reflector may assume amore conical shape and provide a more even distribution of light. Whenthe removable hinge pin is taken out, all the panels will fold back onone another and lie flat, somewhat as indicated in plan in Figure 2, orthey may be folded one on the other, as indicated in Figures 6 and 7.

To assemble this multiple panel reflector into open shape for use, theremovable hinge pin is re laced and the panels brought into position y aformer 15 which is inserted from the front of the reflector. This formeris in the shape of a ring-like casting having a peripheral portion 16,notches as indicated at 17 to receive the knuckles of the hinges. Theformer 15 has a rear threaded extension indicated at 18 to cooperatewith a threaded looking ring 19 having a forwardly facing abutmentsurface 20 which is left to engage with the rear or narrow ends of thepanels. The ring 19 is threaded onto the ring 18, as indicated in Figurel, and this acts to clamp the panel securely in place making a veryrigid conical shaped reflector.

A light source, such as an incandescent lamp bulb or a flash lamp bulb,is indicated at 20. This light source is carried in a lamp socket 21conveniently supported from one of the rings. It is shown in Figures 1and 3 as being carried on a bracket 22 formed integral with the ring 19.The socket 21 is the well known brass shell keyless lamp socket with aside bushing indicated at 23.

A fitting 24 of the type shown in'my application Serial No. 483,814,filed Sept. 23,

1930, passes through the hole in the lug 22 and is threaded onto thebushing 23 carried by the lamp socket, these parts being locked togetherby a locking screw indicated at 25.

' The fitting 24 has concentric contacts 26 and 27 connected by wires 28and 29 with the usual terminals of the lamp socket. The fit-" i thiscase may include a suitable lamp base and column, such as shown in theapplication above referred to. Where, however, the device is intendedfor use away from lighting mains and for explosive flash lamps only, thehandle may be in the form of a detachable unit, such as indicated at 31in Figures 6 and 7. It is provided with a suitable chamber to carry drycells and with a circuit closer to close the circuit and flash the lamp,somewhat as shown in my application Serial No. 473,811, filed August 8,1930. The device shown in Figures 1 and 3 is, however, susceptible ofuse either with commercial lighting voltages and incandescent lamps orfor use with flash lamps exploded either by lighting voltage or bycurrent from dry cells.

Figures 6 and 7 show a convenient carrying case for the battery operatedflash lamp device. This carrying case may take the form of a generallyrectangular, shallow box having a compartment indicated at 50 for thebattery casing and battery 31, a compartment 51 adapted to receive thecollapsed reflector panels 10 and 11, and a third compartment 52 ada tedto receive the locking ring 19. The attery casing or handle 31 is placedin the bottom of the compartment 50, and, likewise, the folded panelsare placed in the bottom of the compartment 51. The former 15 is placedon top of the folded panels, as indlcated. The walls 54 and 55 formingthe chamber 52 are notched, as indicated at 56, so that the locking ring19 may be received as shown.

In the form shown in Figure8, the former ring 60 is like the former ring15, except that it is threaded at 61 to fit the standard lamp socketshell of a lamp socket 62 and is of a length to bear against theshoulder 63 of such shells. The locking ring 64 is threaded to theformer ring 60, as shown, and bears against the ends of the reflectorpanels in the same manner as the ring 19. To facilitate securing thedevice to supports, threaded bosses 65 and 66 may be provided, ifdesired.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms andconstructions Withpreventing t in the scope of the claims, and I wish itto -be understood that the particular forms 1. A collapsible reflectorcomprising a plu- I rality of panels of reflecting material hingedtogether, an abutment against which the ends of the panels engage, and aformer detachably associated with the abutment and engagmg the panels toprevent their collapsing.

2. A collapsible reflector comprising an abutment ring, a former rindetachabl secured thereto, and a plurality of pane s of light reflectingmaterial hingedly secured together, the ends of the pane s being clampedby the former ring against the abutment ring when the reflector is open.

3. A collapsible reflector comprising a lurality of sheet metal panelshinged toget er, the panels tapering so that the reflector, whenexpanded, assumes a generally conical shape, and a pair of ringsthreaded together, one ring having an abutment engaging the small endsof the panels, the other ring being larger and engaging the inner faceof the panels near the small end.

4. A portable lighting a pliance comprising a multiple paneled colapsible reflector, detachable clamping rings to hold the reflectorexpanded, a lamp socket carried by one of the rin s, and a lamp bulb inthe socket with its lig t source inside the reflector.

5. In a portable lamp, a ring having a rearwardly extending lug, aforwardly opening lamp socket carried by the lug, a multiple panel,conically shaped, collapsible reflector whose rear edges engage thefront face of the ring and a former ring detachably secured to the firstring and enga eable with the panels for clampinglthem against the firstring and eir collapsing. 6. In a portable lamp, a ring having arearwardly extendin lu a forwardly opening lamp socket carried the lug,a multiple panel, conically shaped collapsible reflector whose rearedges engage the front face of the ring, and a former rin threaded tothe first ring and engageable with the panels for clamping them agalnstthe first ring and preventing their co lapsing.

7. In a portable lamp, a ring having a rearwardly extending lug, aforwardly opening lamp socket carried by the lug, a multiple panel,conically shaped, collapsible reflector whose rear edges engage thefront face of the ring, a former ring detachabl secured to the firstring and enga eable wit the panels for clamping them agamst the firstring and preventing their collapsing, and a detachable handle carried bythe lug.

8. In combination, a multiple panel, conically shaped, collapsiblereflector, each panel bein wedge shaped and having hinge knuc es alongthe sides thereof, the knuckles containing hinge pins, and a former ringslightly larger than the small end of 5 the reflector, the former ringengagin the inside surface of the panels and Eeing notched toaccommodate the knuckles.

9. In combination, a multiple panel, conically shaped, collapsiblereflector, each panel being wedge shaped and having hinge knuckles alongthe sides thereof, the knuckles containing hinge pins, a former ringslightly larger than the small end of the reflector, the former ringengaging the inside surface 15 of the panels and being notched toaccommodate the knuckles, and having a rear threaded extension, and anabutment ring threaded to the extension and engaging the ends of thepanels.

29 10. In combination, a multiple panel, conically shaped, collapsiblereflector, a pair of rings one engaging the small ends of the panels ofthe reflector when the reflector is opened and the other the inside ofthe re- 25 flector adjacent the small end, and means to clamp thereflector between the rings to prevent collapsing.

11. In combination, a multiple panel, conically shaped, collapsiblereflector, a pair of rings, one engaging the small ends of the panels ofthe reflector when the reflector is opened and the other the inside ofthe reflector adjacent the small end, means to clamp the reflectorbetween the rings to prevent collapsing, an axially disposed lamp socketcarried by one of the rings, and a lamp bulb carried in the socket.- 12.In combination, a multiple panel, conically shaped, collapsiblereflector, a pair of rings, one engaging the small ends of the panels ofthe reflector when the reflector is opened and the other the inside ofthe reflector adjacent the small end, means to clamp the reflectorbetween the rings to prevent collapsing, an axially disposed lamp socketcarried by one of the rings, a lam bulb carried in the socket, and a lamsoc et havin a shell provided with three. to fit threa s in one of therings.

13. In combination, a multiple panel, conically shaped, collapsiblereflector and a pair of rmgs, one engaging the small ends of the Ipanels of the reflector when the reflector is opened and the other theinside of the reflector adjacent the small end, the two rin beingthreaded together for clamping t e reflectorbetween the same to preventcollapsing'.

Signed at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,this 22nd day of January, 1931.

V LEROY C. DOANE.

